New day, new week, new era to begin at ASU

For one of Mississippi public university, Monday will not just be the start of a new week, but also a new era when Alfred Rankins Jr. takes over as the next president of Alcorn State University.

A formal investiture is expected to be held later.

The state College Board chose Rankins in February following an abbreviated search that became necessary after its former president resigned over a purchasing scandal.

Rankins was the only person interviewed for the job. He replaces, M. Christopher Brown II, who stepped down in December after an investigation was launched into ASU’s finances.

The 42-year-old Rankins is the former deputy commissioner of academic affairs at the College Board.

Rankins served for a year as interim president of Mississippi Valley State University, beginning in November 2012.

A native of Greenville, Rankins holds an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics from Alcorn State and a master’s degree and his doctorate in weed science, both from Mississippi State University.

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